Robert 'Bob' Digmann

Robert “Bob” Digmann, 87, of Ames and formerly of Boone, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames.

Per his wishes, Bob has been cremated. A memorial Mass was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Boone. Burial of his cremains will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends called at the church from 10 a.m. to service time on Saturday.

Robert John Digmann was born in Dyersville March 1, 1931, the son of Henry and Aileen (Cavanaugh) Digmann. He graduated from St. Paul High School in Worthington, and continued his education at Bayless Business College in Dubuque. He was drafted into the United States Marine Corps, and served his country honorably until his discharge in 1954. On Sept. 27, 1952, Bob married Norma Jean Friedman at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg.

Bob was an insurance agent in Boone for Life Investors, later Aegon and then Transamerica Financial for more than 50 years. In his younger years, he was a skilled baseball relief pitcher and was invited to try out for the Chicago Cubs. Later in life, he enjoyed traveling with Jean, was an avid golfer and was a member of Boone Golf and Country Club, where he accomplished a hole in one on the fourth hole. He was also a member of the Marine Corps League and St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames.

Bob is survived by his wife, Jean, of Ames; four children, Brad Digmann, of Denver, Colo; Jane Kline, of Acton, Mass.; Barbara Digmann, of San Francisco, and Jon Digmann, of New Orleans; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his sister; Nancy Besler, of Farley; and his in-laws: Judith Digmann, of Worthington, Verna Friedman, of Marlborough. Mass., Carol Pettinger, of Dyersville, Mary Friedman, of Minneapolis, Minn., Bev (Lee) Gehrke, of Drummond, Wis.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jeffrey John Digmann; and seven siblings, Dorothy, Grace, Jim, Dale, Dave, Kenny and Morris.